Friendships on the fringe: Investigating challenging support provision and the associated individual and relational health outcomes

Abstract

Supportive communication plays a key role in relationship maintenance and satisfaction; however, the high expectations associated with support in friendships can also pose significant challenges. Indeed, experiencing difficulties while helping a friend may complicate providers’ ability and willingness to offer ongoing support as well as their desire to maintain their friendship (Johnson, 2025; Johnson et al., 2026; Wortman & Lehman, 1985). Despite these complexities, limited research has explored how supportive challenges affect providers and their relationships. To address this gap, this study utilized a quantitative, nonexperimental research approach with a two-time interval survey design to evaluate the individual and relational health outcomes associated with difficult support provision in emerging adult friendships. This research builds on recent scholarship exploring the difficulties providers experience as well as the communicative strategies they might use to navigate their challenges while attempting to balance their own needs and the needs of support seekers (Johnson, 2025; Johnson et al., 2026; Ray, 2024). Participants completed surveys at two time points approximately two weeks apart. Each survey included measures assessing providers’ perceptions of support-related challenges and the effects those challenges had on their personal well-being and their friendship with the friend they were struggling to support. Results highlight how specific support conditions, appraisals, and behaviors are associated with individual and relational health outcomes. Practically, these findings underscore the importance of awareness and intentionality as providers experience and navigate challenging supportive relationships. Ultimately, this study highlights difficult support provision as a key area for continued investigation to better understand how supportive relationships can remain both sustainable and satisfying.